Collaboration on a shoestring – The London Languages Network (LLN)

Context
Once a term, representatives from some 32 Adult Education Providers, including those from Further Education, weave their way purposefully across London to gather together as the London Languages Network. The aim of this strong and expanding group is to support each other in the work of delivering excellent language teaching to adults across the huge metropolis of Greater London with its 33 Local Authorities.
Due to minimal funding the group runs mainly on enthusiasm, the desire to collaborate and the will to take it in turns to do the organising! The network is an admirable example of what can be achieved when time and resources are shared and it is largely replicable in one form or another.

Key objectives
In these challenging times of funding cuts and loss of provision, the sharing of problems, ideas and solutions is a vital source of support for managers and teachers. Members of the group can be open about the issues they are facing and are able to help each other by sharing information and advice about important issues such as accreditation pathways, sharing resources and bringing each other up to date with training opportunities and other sources of help.

How the programme is organised
Members of the group take it in turns to organise the termly meetings in different colleges on a rotational basis. Each member is included in an e-mail distribution list and this is used regularly to offer information or ask for help and to inform members who are unable to attend any of the meetings.

Results/effect
One of the most remarkable achievements of the group is that its collaborative approach has resulted in some excellent and value-for-money staff development opportunities.  By sharing resources the group organises a massive bi-ennial annual training event which again takes place in one of the institutions within the group on a Saturday. Each establishment contributes £150 and is then entitled to ten places at the conference. The money is used to pay for speakers, catering and caretakers. The last training day, in February 2009, attracted 106 delegates from 16 ACL establishments and attracted 10 excellent trainers. There were also representatives from CILT and an impressive exhibition including European School Books, Rosetta Stone M&M books and Stixionaries.

Using this model
This model of collaboration is replicable in any region in one form or another, although it might need someone to make the first move. Because so much can now be shared electronically, there is a great deal that can be achieved by setting up a virtual network, even if it is not possible to meet physically on a regular basis. However all members of the network agree that if you can manage it, the face to face contact with people doing the same job as you is really useful; it makes you feel far less isolated as well as being a source of practical help.

In this climate of declining numbers of language learners, collaboration on a shoestring may well be an avenue worth exploring.  Anyone in the London region interested in joining the LLN or anyone in other regions keen to start their own network should contact Friederike Schroeder.